NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
NTF-ELCAC Rejects 'Reward Fund' Claims On P8.08B Barangay Budget
FILE
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has dismissed claims that a proposed ₱8.08-billion allocation is a discretionary reward fund, saying the narrative misrepresents both the program and how the money is used.
According to the task force, the amount being cited refers to the Barangay Development Program (BDP), a multi-agency development initiative implemented by regular government departments and not a fund directly controlled or disbursed by NTF-ELCAC.
The task force said it welcomes public scrutiny and debate, including concerns raised by church and civil society groups, stressing that questioning government programs is part of democratic discourse. However, it emphasized that discussions should be based on accurate information and a clear understanding of government processes.
NTF-ELCAC clarified that BDP projects are carried out by line agencies such as the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Social Welfare and Development, Agriculture, Health, and Education. Its role is limited to coordination among agencies and local governments, and it does not handle or release funds.
The task force also pushed back against claims that the BDP serves as a “reward for peace,” explaining that the program is meant to address long-standing neglect in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Many of these communities, it said, have lacked basic infrastructure and social services for decades, creating conditions that allowed armed conflict to take root.
Under the BDP, projects are identified by barangays themselves, endorsed by local development councils, and validated and implemented by local government units. These include roads, water systems, health stations, schools, electrification, and livelihood support, rather than cash handouts. NTF-ELCAC stressed that these are community-driven initiatives and not patronage tools.
On human rights concerns, the task force reiterated that violations are not government policy and must be addressed through existing accountability mechanisms. It also called for a more comprehensive discussion on human rights that considers abuses committed by all sides involved in the conflict.
NTF-ELCAC cautioned against narratives that blur development efforts with militarization, warning that such portrayals risk undermining programs meant to lift communities out of poverty and conflict. It encouraged critics to engage not only with the task force but also with implementing agencies and local communities to promote evidence-based dialogue.
The task force maintained that the ₱8.08-billion allocation is intended to bring long-overdue government services to marginalized areas, describing it as a development measure rather than a political tool.
According to the task force, the amount being cited refers to the Barangay Development Program (BDP), a multi-agency development initiative implemented by regular government departments and not a fund directly controlled or disbursed by NTF-ELCAC.
The task force said it welcomes public scrutiny and debate, including concerns raised by church and civil society groups, stressing that questioning government programs is part of democratic discourse. However, it emphasized that discussions should be based on accurate information and a clear understanding of government processes.
NTF-ELCAC clarified that BDP projects are carried out by line agencies such as the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Social Welfare and Development, Agriculture, Health, and Education. Its role is limited to coordination among agencies and local governments, and it does not handle or release funds.
The task force also pushed back against claims that the BDP serves as a “reward for peace,” explaining that the program is meant to address long-standing neglect in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Many of these communities, it said, have lacked basic infrastructure and social services for decades, creating conditions that allowed armed conflict to take root.
Under the BDP, projects are identified by barangays themselves, endorsed by local development councils, and validated and implemented by local government units. These include roads, water systems, health stations, schools, electrification, and livelihood support, rather than cash handouts. NTF-ELCAC stressed that these are community-driven initiatives and not patronage tools.
On human rights concerns, the task force reiterated that violations are not government policy and must be addressed through existing accountability mechanisms. It also called for a more comprehensive discussion on human rights that considers abuses committed by all sides involved in the conflict.
NTF-ELCAC cautioned against narratives that blur development efforts with militarization, warning that such portrayals risk undermining programs meant to lift communities out of poverty and conflict. It encouraged critics to engage not only with the task force but also with implementing agencies and local communities to promote evidence-based dialogue.
The task force maintained that the ₱8.08-billion allocation is intended to bring long-overdue government services to marginalized areas, describing it as a development measure rather than a political tool.
Dec 18, 2025
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